The world number one, twelve Olympic gold medallists, world and European champions, the winners of prestigious events around the globe and seven world top 10 members will be part of the star-studded field of the Jumping International de La Baule — Officiel de France, a round of the Rolex Series held from 5 to 8 June.
Just a few days to go until the François André Stadium roars back to life. Just a few more days until the top horses and riders in the world return, once again, to the Jumping International de La Baule — Officiel de France.
Ten nations will vie for the Barrière Nations Cup in what promises to be a fierce contest. France are dreaming of filling the air with the strains of La Marseillaise eight years after their most recent victory in 2017. With eighteen French combinations on the start list for the five-star contest, their chef d’équipe, Édouard Couperie, will have a wealth of talent at his disposal to form the team of four (plus one reserve) for this mission.
The crowd in La Baule will have the pleasure of seeing the four Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallists —Kevin Staut (no. 12), Roger-Yves Bost, Pénélope Leprévost and Philippe Rozier— among the Blue Jackets. Olivier Perreau, who claimed a bronze medal in the team event at the Olympic Games last summer, has also thrown his hat into the ring. Fans will also want to keep a close eye on the new wave of French talent, including the newly crowned national champion, Nina Mallevaey, world no. 1 in the U25 rankings and an impressive third-place finisher in last weekend’s Rolex Grand Prix of Rome. Jeanne Sadran and Antoine Ermann (double clear in the Nations Cup in Rome) will be among those to watch too. If the stars align, the Tricolores hope to follow in the footsteps of Nicolas Delmotte, the last French winner of the Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule, back in 2021, astride Urvoso du Roch.
Germany, who took the Barrière Nations Cup last year, are stepping back into the fray with a competitive team. Die Mannschaft is bringing Richard Vogel (world no. 9), as well as Daniel Deusser, Katrin Eckermann, René Dittmer and the 2012 Olympic gold medallist and 2014 world champion in eventing, Sandra Auffarth, who has put in stellar performances in show jumping.
The United States, victorious in Rome last weekend, will be fielding Kent Farrington, world number 1 since early May, who is returning to defend the title he conquered on his grey mare, Greya, in last year’s Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule. Tackling the Barrière Nations Cup at his side will be McLain Ward (no. 8, Olympic gold medallist in the team event in 2004 and 2008 and world champion in the team event in 2018), Lillie Keenan, Laura Kraut (Olympic gold medallist in the team event in 2008 and world champion in the team event in 2018) and Spencer Smith.
Great Britain, who secured Olympic gold in the team event in Versailles last summer but have not tasted glory in La Baule since 2015, have built a team around the two-time Olympic gold medallist in the team event (2012 and 2024) and former world number one Scott Brash. Joining him are Jessica Mendoza, Donald Whitaker, Robert Whitaker and Lillie Allen.
The 2021 Olympic gold medallist in the individual event and three-time winner of the World Cup final Steve Guerdat, currently world number five, will wear the leader’s mantle for Switzerland. The Swiss team, which claimed the Nations Cup in 2019 and 2021, will also feature the 2019 European champion and 2022 World Cup winner Martin Fuchs, also in the world top 10 (no. 6), along with Adrian Schmid, Édouard Schmitz and Nadja Peter Steiner.
Brazil, who have rarely disappointed in La Baule and picked up Nations Cup victories in 2018 and 2023, will be banking on the 2004 Olympic gold medallist, three-time World Cup winner and 1998 world champion Rodrigo Pessoa. The Auriverdes will also be fielding Yuri Mansur, Pedro Veniss, Stephan de Freitas Barcha and Luciana Diniz.
Sweden, the Olympic gold medallists in 2021, world champions in 2022 and European champions in 2023, have decided to play their ace card, Henrik von Eckermann, who was world number one for 33 months in a row before relinquishing the coveted spot last month. Peder Fredricson, another former world no. 1, a two-time Olympic silver medallist in the individual event and a key member of the gold-medal teams at major championships, is also stepping into the fray. Petronella Andersson, Erika Lickhammer van Helmond and Amanda Landeblad will be present too.
Boasting five riders in the world top 50 (Abdel Said, no. 21; Gilles Thomas, no. 22; Pieter Devos, no. 33; Gregory Wathelet, no. 37; and Nicola Philippaerts, no. 44, who clinched the Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule in 2023), Belgium, the victors of the 2022 Nations Cup, are bringing a highly consistent team.
Fourteen years after their most recent success in La Baule (2011), Ireland are rolling up with Cian O’Connor (no. 10); Shane Sweetnam (no. 17), who won the Derby last year; Bertram Allen; Tom Wachman and Seamus Hughes Kennedy.
Last but not least, Italy will be pinning their hopes on Piergiorgio Bucci, Riccardo Pisani, Paolo Paini, Emilio Bicocchi and Fabio Brotto, as the changing of the guard continues on the other side of the Alps.
Notable individual entries include the two Mexicans Carlos Hank Guerreiro, world no. 3 in the U25 rankings (no. 1 until last month) and Federico Fernández, as well as the Spaniard Armando Trapote and theColombian René Lopez, who competed at the Olympic Games in Paris.
